In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization
(IVF) is the most common type of assisted reproduction.
Assisted reproduction is the use of medical treatments to help couples who are not able to get pregnant on their own achieve a pregnancy.

In IVF, a woman is treated with hormones to cause her eggs to mature. The eggs are then retrieved during a surgical procedure such as ultrasound-guided needle aspiration or
laparoscopy
. The eggs are then combined with a man’s sperm outside of the woman’s body in a laboratory dish. There, the eggs fertilize. The resulting embryos grow in the laboratory for a few days. The embryos are then transferred into the woman’s uterus. Embryos implant in the uterus, resulting in a pregnancy.

IVF can be used to treat a variety of types of
infertility
. It can increase a couple’s chances of becoming pregnant. The success rate varies according to maternal age, fresh or frozen embryos, the quality of the sperm, and whether the patient’s own eggs or donor eggs are used. In the US, the live birth rate per IVF cycle using fresh nondonor eggs is around 40% in women aged 35 and younger.
This rate decreases with age.

While it can be successful, IVF is expensive. The average total cost for one IVF cycle is approximately $12,400. This figure will vary greatly depending on what medicines are needed and how many cycles are completed. Some states have laws that require insurance companies to cover infertility services, such as IVF. To find out whether your state has these laws, you can call your state’s Insurance Commissioner’s office.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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